Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship 2026 at University of Port Harcourt — Fully Funded

The Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship 2026 at the University of Port Harcourt ( UniPort ) is open now, and the deadline is 1 June 2026. If you are a young Nigerian from an economically disadvantaged background with a genuine interest in agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems, RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation are offering a fully funded scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year at UniPort.

This covers everything: tuition fees, hostel accommodation, monthly living stipend, research costs, laptop, internship placement, entrepreneurship training, conference attendance, and community engagement. The scholarship is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants across agriculture-related programmes. Applications from female candidates, persons with disabilities, and those from conflict-affected areas are highly encouraged.

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Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship Summary

Scholarship Overview	Scholarship Details
Scholarship Name ⇒	Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0
Host Country ⇒	Nigeria
Study Level ⇒	Undergraduate | Masters
Benefits ⇒	Fully Funded — Tuition, Hostel, Monthly Stipend, Research Costs, Laptop, Internship, Entrepreneurship Training, Conference Support
Funded By ⇒	Mastercard Foundation / RUFORUM / University of Port Harcourt
Eligible Countries ⇒	Nigeria (including refugees resident in Nigeria)
Application Deadline ⇒	1 June 2026

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About the Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship

The TAGDev 2.0 Programme — Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development — is a 10-year initiative running from 2023 to 2033. It is implemented by RUFORUM in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and a network of African universities, including the University of Port Harcourt. The programme is designed to strengthen universities and TVET institutions across Africa to better serve their communities by training young people who will drive inclusive, climate-resilient transformation of agriculture and agri-food systems.

At UniPort, the scholarship supports students enrolled in agriculture and agribusiness-related programmes at both the BSc and MSc levels. Recipients are not simply funded to study — they are expected to become community champions, entrepreneurs, and leaders in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Scholars remain connected to RUFORUM and UniPort through the TAGDev Programme Alumni network after graduation, and gain access to a pan-African network of universities, researchers, and practitioners.

The scholarship is renewable annually, subject to satisfactory academic performance at a minimum grade B level. Retaking more than four courses in any academic year will result in automatic withdrawal of the award.

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Eligible Programmes

Undergraduate (BSc) Programmes:

• BSc. Agricultural Economics
• BSc. Agribusiness Management
• BSc. Agricultural Extension and Development Studies
• BSc. Animal Science
• BSc. Food Science and Nutrition

Postgraduate (MSc) Programmes:

• MSc. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• MSc. Agribusiness Management
• MSc. Crop Science

If your intended programme is not on this list, you are not eligible for this scholarship cycle — the award is restricted to the programmes above.

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What the Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship Covers

The Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at UniPort covers:

• Full tuition fees for the entire duration of your programme
• Hostel accommodation on campus
• Monthly living stipend
• Research costs
• Workshop and conference costs — including international conference participation funded directly by the RUFORUM Secretariat
• Laptop provided to each scholar
• Internship attachment
• Community engagement and field attachment
• Entrepreneurship training
• Annual renewal subject to grade B performance
• Membership of the TAGDev Programme Alumni network upon graduation
• Access to a pan-African network of universities, researchers, and community leaders

This is one of the most comprehensive scholarship packages available to Nigerian undergraduates and postgraduates studying within Nigeria. The combination of academic funding, practical training, entrepreneurship development, and a long-term alumni network sets it apart from standard tuition-only awards.

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Eligibility Requirements

All Applicants (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

• You must be a Nigerian national or a refugee legally resident in Nigeria.
• You must come from an economically disadvantaged or marginalised community, and/or from a conflict or post-conflict area in Nigeria.
• You must not already be receiving any other scholarship — double award recipients will be automatically withdrawn from the programme.
• Previous TAGDev scholarship beneficiaries are not eligible to apply.
• You must demonstrate genuine interest in agriculture, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship.
• You must demonstrate leadership qualities and commitment to community transformation.

Age Requirements

• Undergraduate applicants: under 25 years of age at the time of application.
• Postgraduate applicants: under 30 years of age at the time of application.
• Refugees and internally displaced persons: under 30 years for undergraduate and under 35 years for postgraduate.

Undergraduate-Specific Requirements

• Five O-Level credits in GCE/SSCE/NECO — Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry, Biology or Agricultural Science, and one of Physics, Economics, or Geography — at not more than two sittings.
• Must have sat the UTME, with subjects including Use of English, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, and Biology or Agricultural Science.
• Must have selected University of Port Harcourt as first-choice institution during UTME registration.
• Must pass the UniPort post-UTME screening exercise.
• Must have completed secondary school not more than two years before this call. For refugees and IDPs, not more than four years before.
• Must have attained at least 16 years of age for undergraduate admission.
• Foreign applicants who meet the O-Level requirement are exempt from the UTME and first-choice conditions.

Postgraduate-Specific Requirements

• Credit pass in English Language and Mathematics.
• At least a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline from UniPort or any recognised university.

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Required Documents

Undergraduate (BSc) Applicants

• O-Level certificate or statement of result
• Birth certificate or affidavit of age declaration
• Marriage certificate or newspaper publication for change of name (where applicable)
• Local government identification letter (Nigerian applicants) or international passport (foreign applicants)
• Receipts of payment for application forms
• Completed Google pre-application form

Postgraduate (MSc) Applicants

• Copies of degree certificate(s)
• NYSC discharge certificate (Nigerian applicants only)
• O-Level certificate
• Birth certificate or affidavit of age declaration
• Marriage certificate or newspaper publication for change of name (where applicable)
• Local government identification letter (Nigerian applicants) or international passport (foreign applicants)
• Receipts of payment for application forms
• Completed Google pre-application form

Gather every document on this list before you begin Stage 3 of the application. The RUFORUM RIMS portal requires uploads, and missing documents at submission stage cannot be added after the deadline.

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How to Apply — Three Stages

This scholarship has three separate stages. All three must be completed before 1 June 2026. Do not complete Stage 3 without completing Stages 1 and 2 first.

Stage 1 — Complete the Google Pre-Application Form

1. Fill in the Google pre-application form. This is the first screening step. Complete it early — it takes only a few minutes and must be done before anything else.

Stage 2 — Apply for University Admission at UniPort

For Undergraduate (BSc) Applicants:

1. Apply for admission through the JAMB portal and select the University of Port Harcourt as your first-choice institution for your chosen programme.
2. Sit the UTME. If you meet the national minimum cut-off, you will proceed to the UniPort post-UTME placement test.
3. Visit uniport.edu.ng for current admission forms and detailed guidance.

For Postgraduate (MSc) Applicants:

1. Apply for admission through the University of Port Harcourt School of Graduate Studies portal.
2. Submit all required postgraduate admission documents through the portal.

Stage 3 — Apply for the RUFORUM TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship

1. Go to the RUFORUM Information Management System (RIMS) and click “Register Here” to create your account.
2. Activate your account via the confirmation email sent to you — check your spam or junk folder if it does not appear in your inbox.
3. Log in using your email address and password.
4. From your Applicant Dashboard, navigate to Calls → Scholarship Calls.
5. Select Call ID: RU/2026/TAGDev-2.0/001.
6. Click Apply and begin filling the scholarship application form. Save your progress regularly using the “Save Draft” button — the system does not save automatically.
7. Download, print, and submit your completed scholarship form alongside your university admission application — either as a hard copy or as an attachment on the UniPort online portal, as directed.
8. Submit everything before 1 June 2026.

For assistance with the RUFORUM scholarship application, contact: [email protected]

For UniPort-specific queries, contact Prof. Ibisime Etela, TAGDev 2.0 Programme Coordinator:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +234 703 437 8380 or +234 803 257 3003

Application Deadline

1 June 2026

No submission time is stated for this deadline. Given that this is a Nigerian-based scholarship, submissions close in West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1). Do not submit on 1 June itself if you can help it — RIMS is an online portal and may experience heavy traffic on the closing day. Complete your Google pre-application form and begin your RIMS registration this week. The three-stage process takes more time than a single application form, and JAMB or post-UTME steps cannot be rushed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at UniPort fully funded?

Yes. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, hostel accommodation, a monthly living stipend, research costs, a laptop, an internship placement, conference attendance (including international conferences funded by RUFORUM), entrepreneurship training, and a community field attachment. It is one of the most comprehensive scholarship packages currently available to Nigerian students studying within Nigeria.

Who is eligible for the Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at UniPort?

The scholarship is open to Nigerian nationals and refugees legally resident in Nigeria who come from economically disadvantaged or marginalised communities. Undergraduate applicants must be under 25 years old; postgraduate applicants must be under 30. Refugees and internally displaced persons have extended age limits of 30 and 35 years, respectively. Applicants must not be receiving any other scholarship at the time of application.

Can female applicants and persons with disabilities apply?

Yes — and they are strongly encouraged to. The TAGDev 2.0 Programme explicitly prioritises applications from female candidates, persons with disabilities, and those from conflict-affected or post-conflict areas in Nigeria. If you fall into any of these categories, state it clearly in your application.

What happens if my academic performance drops during the scholarship?

The scholarship is renewed annually, subject to maintaining a minimum grade B level. If you retake more than four courses in any academic year, the scholarship will be automatically withdrawn. There are no warnings or grace periods stated in the programme conditions — maintain your academic performance from your first semester.

Can I apply if I am already receiving another scholarship?

No. The TAGDev 2.0 Programme explicitly prohibits double scholarship holding. If you are discovered to be receiving another scholarship after your award is confirmed, it will be discontinued automatically. Declare any existing financial awards honestly during your application.

What is the RUFORUM RIMS portal, and how do I use it?

RIMS — the RUFORUM Information Management System — is the online platform where your Stage 3 scholarship application is submitted. Go to rims2.ruforum.org, register an account, activate it via email, and then navigate to Scholarship Calls to find Call ID RU/2026/TAGDev-2.0/001. Save your draft regularly as you fill in the form — the system does not auto-save. If you encounter technical difficulties, contact [email protected] for support.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Mastercard Foundation TAGDev 2.0 Programme and University of Port Harcourt sources as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.

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Official Application Portal

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